Fun for all is the goal of a project being tackled by Etna Elementary students to fund new, more accessible school playground equipment.

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 15 in the Etna Elementary School Cafeteria, 8500 Columbia Road, a "Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser" and auction will be held.

Students are focused on upgrading equipment for accessibility for students in wheelchairs, with autism, or with other adaptive needs.

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Among the items for auction is this autographed Crew ball, displayed by Jordyn Abel.(Photo: Craig McDonald/The Standard)

Students have formed outreach and public relations committees, have been calling businesses for donations of auction items, and have set up and are maintaining online funding pages and a frequently updated blog sharing their mission and progress.

On May 3, Maddy Korn, a member of the blogging and public relations group, said three other classes are working with her fifth-grade class (instructed by Nicole Huston; other classes participating are led by Rebecca Poe and Jessica Hupp), “So there’s a lot of us. The night of the dinner, we’ll be actually serving and singing.”

Korn noted, “Our outreach teams are working hard with our special needs kids to make placemats for the event.”

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Students gather on existing playground equipment, which they hope to add on to with more accessible features.(Photo: Craig McDonald/The Standard)

Student Ruthie Allen is one of the ones reaching out to area businesses and organizations, an effort that has so far gathered 250 breadsticks from the Reynoldsburg Olive Garden, balloons, and placement on the Kohl’s "Benevity: site. She noted if the event gets five Kohl’s volunteers, the retailer would also donate $500 toward the effort.

Allen’s father, who owns HTF Auction Services, will serve as auctioneer for the event. Items for auction include an autographed Columbus Crew game ball recently signed by the entire team at the San Jose/Crew game held April 28.

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A sketch of what a completed, more accessible Etna Elementary playground could look like.(Photo: Craig McDonald/The Standard)

Other classes are challenged with creating baskets that will also be part of the auction phase of the May 15 fundraiser, according to student Joe McIntosh. The basket that earns the most money will also earn the responsible class a pizza party.

While a conceptual sketch of an entire new inclusive playground area for Etna Elementary has been created, Korn noted, “Playgrounds are expensive; the goal now is to get an (ADA-compliant) teeter-totter” which is estimated to cost about $5,000.

Huston noted the effort will likely unfold in incremental fashion over successive school years until the project is complete.

You can visit the GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/etna-elementary-fundraising-event

Those businesses interested in making further contributions can email nhuston@laca.org

Pre-event dinner tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at the school through May 14. Tickets purchased at the event will be $7 a meal and carryout will be available.

The dinner includes spaghetti, salad, breadstick and drinks (gluten free and vegetarian options are also available).